How to become green, and stay green

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Please take a look at our latest article on Business Green - my top tips on greening your business and maintaining those changes to feel long term benefits. 

I hope there's something in here that you can take away and implement - whether it's at home or work. 

 CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

Feedback is welcome - get in touch via Twitter @GreenAchiever 

Why independent accreditation pushes businesses in the right direction...

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This week, we stumbled across some information which explains very well how environmental accreditation can help businesses to become more sustainable. 

It makes for an interesting read and gives some good reasons as to why it's worth investing in your green side!

http://urbantimes.co/magazine/2012/11/accreditation-schemes-the-push-businesses-need-to-go-green/

Although it focuses on multi-national corporations, green accreditation is just as worthwhile for SME's. Take a look at our website www.greenachiever.co.uk to find out more on how environmental credentials are becoming essential. 

What happens when you sign up to Green Achiever

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I thought i'd take this opportunity to 'reboot' the Green Achiever blog and to share with you what happens when you sign up with the Green Achiever Scheme. 

Step 1 - Registration 

Every single business that has had anything to do with the Green Achiever Scheme has to register first. This process involves filling in some details and a short questionnaire about your green practices. Once this is done, the team gets an e-mail that is then processed in order to a) get your details onto our Green Business Directory and to b) compose an 'Environmental Healthcheck'. The purpose of this document is to give you some information on which environmental laws will apply to you to make sure you are compliant. 

This level of membership lasts for three months. We do this because, whilst it is great that you are showing intention to be a green business/gain green credentials, we want Green Achiever businesses to make some progress - with guidance from us of course. 

Step 2 - Self-Assessed Award

Some businesses go straight to this level, however most Green Achievers will be with us as 'Registered' before they take the next step. We charge £120+ VAT for this service because it's more labour intensive for us and, for you, there are many more benefits. 

After payment, we send you a form which is pretty in-depth. It's important that this is answered as carefully and as honestly as possible so we get an accurate idea of where you are with environmental matters. If we get your form back with all boxes ticked, it makes it really tough to judge what you ACTUALLY do and what you've claimed to do. Either way, you probably won't get 5 stars via this route - it would be unfair on all the other businesses. 

Once we get the form back, we do a few things with your answers. First we check out your website to get an idea of what kind of business you are. This is important because we then carry out a 'Star rating' process which determines your overall score. From your answers, we then make an Environmental Declaration of Commitment or a 'policy'.  This is a very handy document. Display online, in a frame on the wall, use it to apply for tenders or keep it for use in employee handbooks. The best bit is that, when you renew your membership the year after, we take into account your progress and this is incorporated into the policy. You also get a certificate, a years listing on the directory plus fortnightly environmental updates. 

Step 3 - Silver & Gold Awards

Silver and Gold awards are for any business that:

• Is serious about proving their green credentials. 
• Needs higher level accreditation to compete with others in their industry. 
• Is aiming for ISO 14001 and wants a 'stepping stone' to help it along. 
• Seeks cost savings through making changes to environmental operations on a day to day basis.
• Wishes to benefit from substantial PR opportunities arising from going over and above what is expected from businesses. 
• Would benefit from guidance, year on year, to continuously improve and reduce its environmental impact and to also stay on top of new legislation. 
• Trades in an industry where environmental legislation is particularly 'tight' and needs to stay on top of its environmental impact. 

These levels are entirely different from Self-Assessed because we come to you. Our fantastic auditor, Debbie, comes to your site to see what you actually do. This isn't a test, it's just so that we get a thorough idea of how your business works so we can then identify areas in which improvements can be made. This may be small things like "Your waste plasterboard needs segregating from general waste" to bigger actions like "You have a south facing roof - perhaps look into installing solar panels". All these actions are agreed and we set loose deadlines to encourage progress. 

This level costs between £330 and £660 depending on the number of employees you have which is a competitive rate in comparison with other environmental certification/awards/accreditation. 

As long as there is green ambition, continuous improvements year on year and the commitment is real, we are happy to award accreditation - it's as simple as that. 

Not so Sustainable

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Coca-Cola, Nestle and Mars fail to look after the farmers producing the raw materials they rely on every day to make a big fat profit. Associated British Food (ABF) received the lowest rating with 13 out of 70 points. They produce goods such as Silver Spoon Sugar, Ovaltine and Kingsmill. Shockingly, the cereal shelf favorite Kellogg’s was also pretty poor, scoring 16 out of 70.

These rating are based on how their production impacts the local community, the environment and the welfare of the smallholders at the bottom of the pile. So, how and what are they tested on?

As part of their ‘Behind the Brands’ campaign, Oxfam measure the ‘big 10’ brands in seven categories. 

These categories are:
·         Transparency of their supply chains and general operations
·         How they ensure the rights of workers
·         How they protect women’s rights
·         Their management of water
·         Their management of land
·         Their policies to reduce the impact of climate change
·         How they ensure the rights of the smallholders growing their ingredients

How all of the Big 10 fared

What confuses me is that, when asked to comment on their poor ratings, big companies such as coca-cola recited something as fleetingly satisfying as the very drink they are famed for. The trigger words are rife. ‘Sustainable…..sustainable…..sustainable’.  The meaning of this word has been debated for years. I acknowledge that Oxfam and Coca-cola will have varying ideas on just how ‘to-the-letter’ production can be, however it seems as though the ‘big 10’ have to readdress their definition of sustainability if these results are anything to go by.

In the treatment of women category, the management of land and its climate change policies, ABF scored just 1 out of 10. At a time when the British food industry is suffering from the horsemeat backlash, Oxfam have definitely struck whilst the iron is hot.

Check out the Oxfam - ‘Behind the Brands’campaign here. 

Greening the 2012 Olympics

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 After the stunning opening ceremony for the Olympics which took place last Friday, could the London Olympic Games be a Green one?

The development of the Olympic Park has been dramatic; turning what was wasteland into several eye-catching, fascinating venues. Organizers are hoping for the greenest games ever, insisting an effort is made to minimize any harm to the environment.

The official site lists different ways organisers are planning to make the games green, and also includes a poster you can print off for your own use. You can find this here: - http://getset.london2012.com/en/the-games/about-london-2012/the-olympic-park/a-green-olympic-park  

Business Green has put together the Top 10 Green Olympic facts. This ranges from the eco-uniform at McDonalds to the completely recyclable stadium itself – definitely worth a read! http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/feature/2194942/top-10-green-olympic-facts

And the final article I found refers to the air quality in London City. ‘Olympic athletes could be impaired by London pollution, experts warn’ – definitely recommend. See whether you agree here- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/16/olympic-athletes-london-pollution

During the weekend, I went away to Blackpool for a few nights. During the drive home, we decided to stop at Mcdonalds where we were greeted by an Olympic Torchbearer with his Torch. For 50p we were able to have a photo and a hold of the torch, all proceeds going to charity - of course I couldn't say no! Its a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of us! I've included the photo below :-) 

Stay Green!
Thanks for reading :-)